IIT Madras’ Centre for Responsible AI Hosts Conclave on ‘Safe and Trusted AI’
Chennai, 11 December 2025 : The Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI) at IIT Madras, under the Wadhwani School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (WSAI), hosted a two-day Conclave on ‘Safe and Trusted AI’ on 10th and 11th December 2025. The gathering focused on advancing AI safety, governance, and trust—especially for the Global South—at a time when AI is rapidly transforming critical sectors.
The conclave brought together senior leaders from government, industry, academia, civil society, and global AI institutions to shape discussions on advanced ‘AI Safety Commons’—a shared ecosystem of open tools, datasets, and governance frameworks. These insights are expected to guide AI governance recommendations for India and beyond.
The event was inaugurated by Dr. T.R.B. Rajaa, Hon’ble Minister for Industries, Investment Promotions and Commerce, Government of Tamil Nadu, alongside
- Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras
- Prof. Balaraman Ravindran, Head, WSAI
- Distinguished delegates from India and abroad
🔹 Key Highlights
1. Policy & Governance Focus
Dr. T.R.B. Rajaa emphasised the need for strong policy interventions:
“Tamil Nadu’s vision is to become AI-first. Technology only becomes ethical and powerful when it benefits everyone.”
He reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening ethical AI frameworks.
2. AI’s Rising Societal Role
Prof. V. Kamakoti highlighted how AI is now embedded in everyday decision-making—from health to education—and stressed the importance of safe and trusted AI at this stage of technological evolution.
3. Global Collaboration
Shri Mohammad Y Safirulla, Director, IndiaAI Mission (MeitY), noted the global scale of India’s AI governance efforts, with experts from 112 countries contributing to the working groups shaping the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
🔹 Scientific and Technical Sessions
- Scientific Keynote by Prof. Sriraam Natarajan, University of Texas at Dallas
- Virtual Keynote by Peter Mattson, Founder President, ML Commons
Two major panel discussions explored:
- AI Safety Commons for the Global South
- Operationalising AI Governance Guidelines from a regional perspective
Experts discussed building an open ecosystem of tools, benchmarks, datasets, and governance protocols to support safer AI development.
🔹 Preparations for India AI Impact Summit 2026
The conclave’s in-depth discussions will directly inform the Safe and Trusted AI Working Group, chaired by Prof. Balaraman Ravindran, as part of the lead-up to the India AI Impact Summit 2026—the first-ever global AI summit hosted in the Global South.
Prof. Ravindran emphasised the group’s commitment to:
- Strengthening global AI safety capacity
- Promoting inclusion
- Recommending governance guidelines that enable innovation while protecting societal well-being
Over two days, IIT Madras showcased leadership in shaping a trusted, reliable, and equitable AI ecosystem. The conclave has set the stage for India’s pivotal role in global AI governance and safe innovation.
